Defence lawyers oppose bar associations’ role in Tempi trial

The court must decide which of those who have submitted relevant statements may participate in the proceedings as supporters of the charge. The discussion follows the prosecutor’s proposal, which recommends rejecting the statements submitted by the Greek state and the Panhellenic Traction Personnel Association, as well as those concerning the offence of breach of duty. By contrast, the prosecutor has proposed accepting the statements submitted by the bar associations only in relation to the offence of disrupting transport safety.

During today’s hearing, lawyers representing relatives of the victims completed their statements, while defence lawyers for the accused began their submissions.

The defence lawyers reiterated their request for the bar associations and the Panhellenic Traction Personnel Association to be excluded from the proceedings. At the same time, they opposed the prosecutor’s proposal to allow the bar associations to participate, arguing that such a decision could create issues of procedural invalidity in the future.

The lawyers of the three accused stationmasters, as well as of the former head of the Larissa Inspection Department of the Traffic Support Service of Central and Southern Greece, are expected to appear on 16 June. The defendants are asking for the Greek state to be excluded from the proceedings, as its statement of representation is directed exclusively against them.

Statements from the defence lawyers of defendants prosecuted for breach of duty will also follow.

Tomorrow’s scheduled hearing will not proceed in substance, due to the court secretary’s participation in the 24-hour nationwide strike declared by the Federation of Judicial Employees of Greece.

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